Chapter Text
The bell rang to the end of the lesson and start of the break. Okarun gave a sigh of relief. He liked school, he really did. But today he was way too exhausted to register any of the learning material given to him. He started putting away his school books and got out his Mystery Magazines. Before he could go through them though, he was interrupted by a pink sweater that ran in through the door.
"Okarunnn!" yelled Momo Ayase excitedly and jumped infront of his desk with a gleaming face.
"Come on! We'll go on the roof."
Without waiting for any sort of reply, she grabbed his hand and pulled him up on his feet.
"Oh- uh, hi Ayase-san!"
He got flustered by the touch. He didn't mind, but he still hasn't gotten used to the physical affection. He quickly put down the magazines on his desk. He'd completely forgotten they even existed.
Ayase-san happily dragged him along, out of the room and down the hallway. Students flooding out of classrooms and towards the cafeteria. Okarun fumbled around with his glasses to conceal his blushing face. Avoiding all the curious looks the two were probably getting. The both of them made their way up the stairs and out to the roof, sitting down on the bench next to the staircase door and leaning against the wall.
Okarun sleepily yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"Where do you get all this energy?" he mumbled with a weak grin.
Ayase-san turned to look at him and her energetic face turned into concern.
"Oh- you look tired. Did you not get any sleep or something?"
Ayase-san wondered.
"More or less..."
He replied. His posture slumped a bit as he wasn't required to pretend he was okay anymore.
"Did ya stay up and read Mystery Magazines?"
Ayase-san asked with a chuckle, while pushing her elbow into his side to tease him.
Okarun's face darkened. He looked down to his feet and fidgeted with his hands.
"I... I wish"
Ayasae-san's arm sank.
"What was it then..?"
She asked with genuine concern in her eyes.
Okarun held his breath. The urge to tell her about the unbearable fight between his parents last night was strong. Something about Ayase-san made Okarun feel safe. Still, he didn't want to burden her with his issues. He had no right to ruin her joy.
"Just...uhh..couldn't fall asleep. That's all." Okarun held his arms in a sort of self hug.
"Don't worry about me." he added, giving her a nervous smile.
Ayase-san didn't seem too convinced, but seemingly decided not to question him further. Instead, she leaned against the wall and pointed to her lap.
"Come on."
Okarun looked up, confused.
"Come here already. I'm comfy I promise." she added encouragingly.
"You want me to... lie down...? On your lap?" Okarun asked, in disbelief. His arms floating infront of him with uncertainty.
"'Course, you're tired aren't you? We got twenty minutes and you look like you really need it." Ayase-san didn't seem the slightest bit unsure of her offer.
Okarun felt blush spreading on his face. Of course he wanted to. But was this truly okay? His anxiety caused an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. He looked back up to find Ayase-san looking at him in a way that made him think she'd be insulted if he refused. So, Okarun sat closer and slowly leaned down to rest his head on her lap with such care, as if she'd break if he didn't.
In this position, she wasn't able to see his face which definetly was a relief with how red his face must've been by now. Okarun pulled his hands to his chest in an attempt to keep them from shaking. He took a deep breath and fully sunk into her thigh. His nervousness eventually faded and he felt his body's exhaustion. She was so comfortable. He closed his eyes. No bed he ever laid in was this comfortable. Ayase-san's body warmth slowly dragged him into unconsciousnes, and as his senses slowly dampened, he fell asleep.
The school bell ripped Okarun out of a sleep that felt like it had gone on for hours. As his senses slowly became clear again, he felt a tingling sensation on the top of his head. It took a moment before he realized that Ayase-san had her fingers in his hear, lightly scratching his skin.
He immeditaly stiffened, which caused her hand to stop and retreat back to the bench. Okarun quickly got up und muttered a "S-sorry!" incase he had made her uncomfortable. Unable to look her in the eyes.
For a moment, there was silence, until suddenly, he felt her fingers lightly snap against his forehead.
"Ey! No apologizing. We talked about this." A serious expression on her face, her eyes staring at him, she added.
"I offered it. Of course I'm not uncomfortable."
She crossed her arms and pouted playfully.
"Well..."
Okarun sighed and lifted his head back up to look at her.
"Okay..."
His anxiety calmed down a little and he felt the exhaustion from earlier again, stronger this time. Before he fell back to sleep where he was sitting, he got up to walk back to the staircase. Ayase-san joined his side and they started walking down the stairs.
After a moment of silence, Ayase-san tapped Okarun's shoulder.
"You know... you could just tell the nurse you have a headache. The way you look should be enough to let you go home."
Okarun fell silent for a moment. She was probably right. But that'd mean he'd be walking home alone. He then proceeded to look at Ayase-san with puppy-dog eyes and asked,
"...and miss out on walking home with you?"
Ayase-san quickly looked the other way, choked and franticly tried to clear her throat.
"Um... Maybe I can go with you."
She said without looking back at him.
Okarun was sceptical.
"What are you gonna tell he nurse? You look fine."
Okarun's voice had shifted to a more confident and husky tone now. The exhaustion taking his anxiety.
"Well!" Ayase-san's steps were a bit out of order but she looked back towards him now.
"Trust me I know what to do. We'll go home together."
Happy with her plan, she grabbed Okarun's hand and slowly led him to the nurse's office.
"Oh hey Okarun!" the nurse greeted him. "Did you get hurt again?" The nurse got up from her desk and analyzed his face.
"N-no I'm fine.. I do have a migraine though and haven't been able to process any and all the teacher tried to tell me today." That had been at least partially true.
"Oh you look awful. You should go home." Only now did she notice the girl standing next to him.
"And you are..?"
Ayase-san put on a pained face and greeted the nurse.
"Hello, I'm Momo Ayase. I'd also like to go home. You know... cramps and stuff."
She put on an oscar worthy face full of pain.
"Really? If it's this bad you should be carrying painkillers around with you."
"Well- my period got pretty irregular lately."
Ayase-san held her stomach and curled up a bit in her stance.
"Don't make this a habit. And bring him home."
The nurse added and turned back around.
"Get home safe. Both of you."
Ayase-san looked excited and didn't stand around too long just incase she'd change her mind. The both of them walked back out and towards their classrooms.
"Is it that easy as a girl to get a sick leave?" Okarun asks, kinda impressed.
"It kinda depends. If it happens like every week, they obviously won't buy it and will keep you at school even if you're actually on your period."
Ayase-san and Okarun agreed to get their things and tell their teachers they were leaving and met back up in the hallway.
"Got everything?"
Ayase-san asked.
"Yeah. The teacher didn't even want an explanation, she just looked at me and nodded."
The two started walking to the main door.
"Do I really look that bad?"
He asked with droopy eyes.
"Yes."
Okarun sighed and his head sank. The two walked out of the building and made their way across the schoolyard. Okarun, walking closely next to Ayase-san, closed his eyes for what felt like just a millisecond, opening them to the sudden feeling of the room tilting. Before he could react, he already fell into Ayase-san's side.
"Woah! Fuck- are you ok?!"
Ayase-san held his arm and back firmly, holding him upright.
Okarun stiffened and pulled away.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to I-" Adrenaline flooded his body and woke him up fully.
"I'm fine."
He quickly dismissed and kept walking.
Ayase-san just stared at first, then quickly caught up and grabbed his hand.
"Oh-" Okarun jumped a bit. He had expected her to be mad at him for clumsily falling into her like that, but, oddly enough, she just seemed worried.
Ayase-san wrapped her second arm around his, holding him tight.
Okarun looked straight ahead to hide his panicked face. This was just as nerve-wracking as it was exciting. His arm tingled.
"I'll get you home safe. Promise."
It had just been a whisper. Okarun wasn't even sure if he had heard her right. Yet, he relaxed. His shoulders sank and he felt a smile spread on his face.
They slowly made their way through the neighborhood, talking about ghosts and aliens like they usually do. Okarun didn't live too far from the school so their conversation didn't last nearly as long as Okarun wished.
"Alright. Here we are."
Okarun halted, but Ayase-san didn't let go like he'd expected. His eyes wandered to hers.
She looked at him with slight fear in her eyes.
"Should I help you inside? I feel like you'll faint as soon as I let go."
Okarun chuckled in an attempt to calm her down.
"No, I can make it to my room don't worry."
He raised his hand and took hers from his arm.
"Thank you... for... walking with me."
Ayase-san looked down.
"Course"
An uncomfortable silence settled between them.
Okarun quickly bowed.
"Anyway uh- get home safe! B-bye!
And with that, he turned around and speed walked to his door.
"I'll text ya!"
Ayase-san called out to him.
Okarun stopped and looked back at her for a moment. He smiled, before dissappearing into his house.